Terms & Conditions

Serengeti Steppe Travels Terms & Conditions, Version 1.1, effective 1st August 2026.

These Terms & Conditions set out the agreement between Serengeti Steppe Travels ("we", "us", or "our") and the client ("you" or "your"). By requesting a quotation, making a payment, or confirming a booking with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

If you have any questions or require clarification about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us before making payment or confirming your booking.

1. Booking & Confirmation

A booking is confirmed only when we have received the required payment and issued a written confirmation to you. Once confirmed, we will proceed with securing accommodations, vehicles, park fees, conservation fees, permits, and other required services on your behalf.

Deposit: A 30% deposit is required to secure reservations and enable necessary procurements.
Confirmation:Once the required payment has been received and cleared, and the booking has been accepted, we will send a booking confirmation and invoice to your email.

2. Payment Terms

Our payment terms are designed to secure the services included in your safari and provide clear deadlines for both the initial deposit and final balance.

Deposit:A 30% deposit is required upon booking to secure accommodations, transportation, park fees, permits, and other third-party services. A booking is confirmed only once the deposit has been received and cleared and Serengeti Steppe Travels has issued written confirmation.
Final Balance: The remaining 70% balance must be paid no later than 30 days before the scheduled arrival date.
Bookings Made Within 30 Days: For bookings made less than 30 days before the scheduled arrival date, full payment is required at the time of booking. All bookings remain subject to availability and are confirmed only after payment has been received and written confirmation has been issued by Serengeti Steppe Travels.For bookings made less than 30 days before the scheduled arrival date, full payment is required upon booking. The booking remains subject to availability and written confirmation.
Transaction Fees: All bank transfer fees, card processing fees, currency-conversion charges, and other transaction costs associated with payment are the responsibility of the client.
Payment Processing: A booking is not considered fully paid until the relevant funds have been received and cleared by Serengeti Steppe Travels.

3. Cancellations & Refunds

We understand that plans can change. Cancellation requests must be submitted to Serengeti Steppe Travels in writing. The applicable cancellation period will be determined by the date we receive your written cancellation notice and the scheduled departure date.

Where possible, we will first work with our suppliers to obtain refunds, credit notes, vouchers, or alternative arrangements that may allow you to postpone or reschedule your safari. Any refund, credit, or voucher remains subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant supplier.

If a supplier does not provide a refund, credit, or alternative arrangement, the following cancellation charges will apply:

More than 60 days before departure: The 30% deposit is refundable, less any non-refundable amounts already committed to third-party suppliers and a reasonable administrative fee.
30–59 days before departure: 50% of the total trip cost is forfeited. Any amount paid above the applicable cancellation charge will be refunded, subject to non-refundable supplier charges.
Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of the total trip cost is forfeited.
Supplier Charges: Cancellation and refund amounts may be affected by non-refundable charges imposed by accommodation providers, airlines, park authorities, or other third-party suppliers. We will provide the applicable supplier terms or charges where relevant.
Refund Processing: Any approved refund will be processed after applicable supplier charges, payment-processing fees, bank charges, and administrative fees have been deducted.

4. Changes to Bookings

Changes requested after confirmation will be handled promptly, but may be subject to availability and additional costs. This includes changes to travel dates, accommodation category, number of travelers, or itinerary components.

Amendment fees: Where suppliers charge for amendments, these fees will be passed on to you.
Availability: We will use our best efforts to accommodate requests but cannot guarantee availability for the same price or exact services.
Accommodation Substitutions: If an accommodation provider becomes unavailable due to closure, overbooking, operational issues, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we may arrange alternative accommodation of a similar standard and, where reasonably possible, in the same area or offering a comparable experience. We will inform you of any significant change as soon as reasonably practicable. If the alternative accommodation has a higher cost, we will cover the additional cost where the change is required for reasons beyond your control. If a lower-cost alternative is provided, we will refund the difference where applicable.

5. Travel Insurance

We do not provide travel insurance, and clients are required to purchase comprehensive travel insurance independently from their home country prior to travel.

Mandatory Coverage: Your policy must explicitly include coverage for emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, and repatriation.
Recommended Coverage: We strongly advise extending your policy to cover trip cancellations, delays, personal injury, and loss or damage to personal belongings.
Provider Disclosure: You must notify your insurer of the specific nature of your itinerary to ensure proper coverage for all activities undertaken during the tour.

6. Health & Safety

Health and safety are central to every itinerary we plan. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet all applicable vaccination, entry, health, and fitness requirements for travel to Tanzania and any other destinations included in your itinerary.

Medical Advice: We recommend consulting your healthcare provider or a qualified travel clinic well in advance of travel for current advice regarding vaccinations, malaria prevention, medications, and any other health precautions relevant to your trip.

Disclosure: You must inform us at the time of booking of any medical conditions, mobility limitations, dietary requirements, or special assistance needs that may affect the arrangements or your participation in the safari. This allows us to assess whether reasonable arrangements can be made and advise you of any known logistical limitations.

Fitness & Participation: Certain safari activities may involve uneven terrain, long drives, walking, changes in altitude, heat, or other physical conditions. You are responsible for determining, with appropriate professional medical advice where necessary, whether you are fit to participate in the activities included in your itinerary.

Emergency Situations: In the event of illness, injury, or another medical emergency during the safari, we will provide reasonable assistance in contacting appropriate local medical or emergency services. Any resulting medical, evacuation, transportation, or related costs remain the responsibility of the client unless covered by your travel insurance.

7. Responsibilities & Liability

Serengeti Steppe Travels carefully selects and coordinates accommodation providers, transport operators, airlines, park authorities, guides, and other service providers involved in your safari. These suppliers are independent entities and remain responsible for the services they provide.

Third-Party Suppliers: We are not responsible for losses arising from the acts, omissions, negligence, or defaults of independent third-party suppliers, except to the extent that such liability cannot lawfully be excluded or results from our own negligence, wilful misconduct, or failure to exercise reasonable care.
Force Majeure: We accept no liability for delays, cancellations, additional expenses, or losses caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, extreme weather, epidemics, pandemics, quarantine measures, war, civil unrest, road closures, border closures, government restrictions, park closures, or other circumstances that could not reasonably have been prevented or anticipated.
Reasonable Assistance: Where a third-party supplier fails to provide a contracted service, we will make reasonable efforts to assist you in finding an appropriate solution, alternative arrangement, or applicable refund or credit, subject to the supplier's terms and availability.

8. Wildlife Sightings & Safari Experience

Wildlife is wild and unpredictable, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The presence, location, and behaviour of animals can vary depending on weather, season, migration patterns, habitat conditions, and other natural factors.

Wildlife Sightings: We cannot guarantee sightings of any particular animal, including the Big Five, or specific wildlife events such as predator activity, births, hunts, or river crossings.
Guide's Efforts: Our professional guides will make every reasonable effort to provide an exceptional wildlife-viewing experience using their knowledge, experience, current conditions, and available information.
Natural Conditions: Safari routes and viewing opportunities may change according to wildlife movements, road conditions, weather, park regulations, and other circumstances beyond our control.
No Guaranteed Outcomes: The absence of a particular animal or wildlife event does not constitute a failure to provide the safari services included in your confirmed itinerary and does not entitle the client to a refund or compensation.

9. Client Conduct & Behaviour

Clients are expected to behave respectfully and responsibly throughout the safari and to follow reasonable instructions given by our guides, drivers, accommodation staff, park authorities, and other responsible personnel.

Following Instructions: You must follow reasonable safety instructions and applicable rules provided by your guide, driver, accommodation, park authorities, or other service providers.
Respectful Behaviour: You must not engage in behaviour that is threatening, abusive, disruptive, unlawful, or otherwise inappropriate toward our staff, guides, drivers, other guests, local communities, or service providers.
Safety & Wildlife: You must not deliberately engage in conduct that creates a serious risk to your own safety, the safety of others, wildlife, or property, including deliberately disregarding reasonable instructions relating to wildlife encounters or park regulations.
Termination of Services: If your behaviour creates a serious safety risk, threatens or harms another person, wildlife, or property, or significantly disrupts the safari or other guests, we reserve the right to terminate the affected services without refund. Where reasonably possible, we will first provide a warning and an opportunity to correct the behaviour.
Additional Costs: You are responsible for any damage, loss, fines, penalties, or additional costs resulting from your intentional or negligent actions or failure to follow applicable rules and reasonable instructions.

10. Travel Documents, Visas & Entry Requirements

You are responsible for ensuring that you hold all documents and authorisations required for your travel to Tanzania and any other destinations included in your itinerary.

Passport: You must have a valid passport that meets the entry requirements of Tanzania and any other country included in your itinerary. You are responsible for ensuring that your passport remains valid for the required period and has sufficient blank pages where applicable.
Visa & Entry Requirements: You are responsible for obtaining any required visa, entry permit, transit visa, vaccination certificate, or other travel documentation before departure.
Immigration Requirements: You are responsible for complying with all immigration, customs, health, and border-entry requirements applicable to your nationality and itinerary. Requirements can vary by nationality and may change without notice.
Accuracy of Information: All personal information provided to Serengeti Steppe Travels, including names, passport details, dates of birth, and nationality, must be accurate and match your official travel documents. Any costs or consequences resulting from incorrect or incomplete information provided by you are your responsibility.
Failure to Meet Requirements: Serengeti Steppe Travels is not responsible for losses, missed services, additional costs, or denied boarding or entry resulting from your failure to obtain or carry the required documents, visas, permits, or other authorisations.

11. Flights & Air Travel

Where domestic or regional flights are included in your itinerary, Serengeti Steppe Travels may arrange these flights on your behalf through the relevant airline or authorised booking provider.

Airline Responsibility: Flights are operated by independent airlines and are subject to the airline's own terms and conditions. Flight schedules, routes, aircraft, baggage allowances, delays, cancellations, and operational decisions are the responsibility of the airline.
Schedule Changes & Delays: Flight schedules may change without prior notice. If a flight is delayed, cancelled, rescheduled, or otherwise disrupted, we will make reasonable efforts to assist you with alternative arrangements where available. Any additional costs imposed by the airline or arising from changes requested by the client will be the client's responsibility unless otherwise stated.
Baggage: You are responsible for complying with the airline's baggage allowance and restrictions. Any excess baggage charges, overweight fees, or other baggage-related costs are your responsibility.
Missed Flights: Serengeti Steppe Travels is not responsible for missed flights resulting from the client's late arrival, failure to check in on time, failure to comply with airline requirements, or other circumstances within the client's control.
Flight Refunds: Where a flight is cancelled or disrupted by the airline, any refund or compensation will be subject to the airline's applicable fare rules and policies. We will assist with the relevant process where reasonably possible.

12. Complaints & Dispute Resolution

We are committed to providing a high standard of service and addressing any concerns as promptly as possible.

During the Safari: If you experience a problem or are dissatisfied with any aspect of your safari, you should inform your guide or Serengeti Steppe Travels as soon as reasonably possible while the issue is occurring. This gives us the opportunity to investigate the matter and, where reasonably possible, correct or resolve it during your trip.
Complaints After Travel: If a concern cannot be resolved during the safari, you should submit your complaint to us in writing as soon as reasonably possible after returning from your trip, providing relevant details and supporting information.
Opportunity to Resolve: We will review the complaint and work with the relevant service providers where necessary to determine what occurred and whether an appropriate remedy is available.
Supplier Services: Where a complaint relates to a service provided by an independent third-party supplier, we may need to refer the matter to that supplier and will reasonably assist with communication and resolution.
No Waiver: Failure to raise a complaint immediately does not automatically prevent us from considering it; however, delays in reporting a problem may limit our ability to investigate or remedy the issue.
Dispute Resolution: If a dispute cannot be resolved through good-faith communication, it may be referred to the appropriate legal or dispute-resolution process under the governing law and jurisdiction applicable to this agreement.

13. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

We are committed to resolving any concerns fairly, promptly, and in good faith. If a concern arises during or after your safari, we encourage you to contact Serengeti Steppe Travels first so that we have an opportunity to assist and resolve the matter.

Good-Faith Resolution: We will make reasonable efforts to resolve complaints or disputes directly with you and, where relevant, with the service providers involved in your safari.
Tourism Authorities: Where appropriate, tourism-related concerns may be referred to the relevant Tanzanian tourism authorities for guidance or assistance.
Tourism and Diplomatic Police Unit: For matters involving tourist safety, suspected fraud, criminal activity, lost travel documents, serious misconduct, or other matters requiring official assistance, clients may contact or be referred to Tanzania's Tourism and Diplomatic Police Unit, which is dedicated to supporting tourists and tourism-related matters.
Embassies & Diplomatic Missions: Where appropriate, international visitors may also seek assistance from their embassy or diplomatic mission in Tanzania.
Dispute Resolution: Where a dispute cannot be resolved through reasonable communication or appropriate administrative channels, the matter may be addressed through the competent authorities or courts in accordance with applicable Tanzanian law.

14. Acceptance of Terms

By requesting a quotation, making a payment, or confirming a booking with Serengeti Steppe Travels, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions form part of the agreement between you and Serengeti Steppe Travels and apply to all services included in your confirmed booking.

If you have any questions or require clarification regarding these Terms & Conditions, please contact us before making payment or confirming your booking.

15. Changes to These Terms & Conditions

Serengeti Steppe Travels may update or amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time. Any updated Terms & Conditions will apply to bookings made after the effective date of the updated version.

The Terms & Conditions applicable to a confirmed booking are those provided to the client and accepted at the time the booking was confirmed. We will not materially change the Terms & Conditions applicable to an already confirmed booking without the client's agreement.